The Firebird 100 has infrared technology, allowing its camera to see flames through vision-limiting smoke. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
When a bushfire’s too remote to reach or the smoke’s too thick to see any flames, three helicopters will in our skies to help fight any infernos on the ground.
The Specialist Intelligence Gathering helicopter Firebird 100 will be stationed in Canberra from December until March 2026, along with two medium helicopters with winches and water bombing capabilities.
The aircraft provide rapid aerial firefighting support, including real-time intelligence and strategic waterbombing capabilities.
ACT Rural Fire Service Chief Officer Rohan Scott said with the helicopters on standby and ready to launch within 15 minutes, crews can respond rapidly to any bushfire threat.
“Their ability to stream live footage and collect spatial data will give our crews on the ground the critical insights they need to act quickly and make informed decisions during emergencies,” he said.
“[These machines] could be utilised in NSW for any incidents that occur across the border. Collectively, all the jurisdictions share resources because, at the end of the day, we want to keep the community safe.”
The Firebird 100 has infrared capabilities that maps real-time spatial data, the fire line, access routes and different vegetation, live-streaming information back to the control centre, as well as to the ESA Incidents Map and NSW SES’s Hazards Near Me map.
Emergency Services Agency ACT intelligence team director Jake Bradley said the helicopter was an invaluable resource when responding to fires.
“It can sit up to 5 km away from an incident, like it did for the Orroral Valley bushfire and you can get really highly detailed imagery coming from a fire ground, such as looking at a spot fire that’s in someone’s gutter from embers that have come over the fire front,” he said.
“The infrared footage cuts straight through [the smoke] and so you can get really detailed spot fire, fire line for edges as a front’s progressing.”
The Firebird can send back data as long as there’s mobile reception, but of course there are back-up plans in place.
“We also have a specialist intelligence gathering network capability, in which the appliance can use the fire towers around the ACT to stream that data back in the case that the 4G or 5G network isn’t operating,” Mr Bradley said.
“If there is a big pyro-cumulonimbus above the ACT, we might not be able to stream data back out through satellites, so we go through fire towers.”
The Canberra region, Riverina and South Coast are facing a generally normal bushfire season, despite the area missing out on forecast Spring rain.
But that didn’t mean people should be complacent.
“We are asking the community to work with us, prepare your property, prepare yourself, know what you’re going to do in the events of an incident, have your survival plan, listen to the messaging from the authorities,” Chief Officer Scott said.
“We encourage everyone to take steps now to ensure that their family and home is prepared for a bushfire.
“Prepare now, survive tomorrow.”
The two contracted medium helicopters have water-bombing capabilities and winches. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
Information about preparing a bushfire survival plan can be found on the ACT ESA Be Emergency Ready website.
